By Perkins-Tino Bare.
Zimbabwe. (News Of The South) – Mashonaland Eagles toppled the Matebeland Tuskers at the summit of the log as they beat the Midwest Rhinos at Kwekwe Sports Club by and therefore gaining a bonus point which ensued their place at the top of the table.
With the top spot up for grabs, the players went into yesterday`s matches knowing that it was going to take a bonus point to topple the pace setting Tuskers who seemed to be charging to yet another successive title.
With the odds stacked against Eagles as they looked set to give the Rhinos a spanking and then earn that valuable bonus point they went in to bat with what has slowly developed into most people`s preferred opening partnership of Sikander Raza and Chamu Chibhabha.
The two made their intentions clear from the word go as they had no kind shots for the bowlers charging through to an opening stand of a half century without any trouble. Rhinos got their breakthrough when Chisoro hung on to a return catch as Sikander Raza offered his wicket rather cheaply, departing for 32 and leaving the Eagles at 90/1 in 17 overs.
The Eagles were however not to be deterred as Chamu Chibhabha, pushing hard for that spot in the World Cup starting XI reached his 50 only to be at deep square 6 runs later by Chinouya off the bowling of Wadlan leaving the Eagles at a respectable 110 for 2 in 21 overs.
In came in Regis Chakabva who was to be dismissed in sublime fashion as he pulled a Chisoro long hop straight to Chapungu at mid-wicket who plucked it in mid-air, one-handed!
With the Eagles sitting on 137/3 in 27 overs and with Brendan Taylor and Elton Chigumbura at the crease, they looked set to get the runs ticking on the board if they looked set to set that huge target in order for them to gain that much coveted bonus point.
With both batsmen looking steady at the crease, 50 was soon up for Brendan Taylor as the Eagles were now on 157/3 in 31 overs, still looking at the possibility of a 250 plus score.
It was a however not to be a ton for the Eagles` new recruit Brendan Taylor who departed for 6, caught at mid on by Chisoro off Kamungozi leaving the Eagles at 177/4 in 35 overs. Chigumbura was soon to follow Bran in the dressing rooms as he also departed for 25 caught behind off the bowling of Panyangara.
With the Eagles on 189/5 in 39 overs it was time for Prosper Utseya to get some late runs at the crease and he did just that before being caught by Brad Wadlan at deep mid-wicket for 19 leaving the Eagles at a cumbersome 232/6 in 44 overs.
Next up for the Eagles was Ryan Burl who provided the finishing touches to the Eagles innings with a brisk 53 off 29 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes coming from his innings. The Eagles closed out their innings on an imposing 281/9 in their allotted 50 overs.
The Rhinos came in to bat with a daunting task ahead of them and Vusi Sibanda was soon to depart for for 7 as a sweep dearly cost him his wicket as it looped it into Brendan Taylor at mid-wicket. With the Rhinos now on 24/1 after 3 overs next up to the crease for them was B. Wadlan who had Chapungu to partner him at the crease. Chapungu soon attempted an ambitious reverse sweep, missing all of it and was clean bowled by Sikander Raza for 17. Rhinos were soon sitting on 32/2 after 5 overs and had Solomon Mire and B. Wadlan at the crease hoping to chase down the target which had been set by the Eagles.
Sikander Raza soon struck again as Brad Wadlan soon joined his long list of victims as he attempted a hack across the line, only achieving a knick to the keeper in the process.
Soon it was down to repair work for the Rhinos as the quick wickets had left their chase deterred. Malcolm Waller and Solomon Mire looked to set up a partnership but it was not to be as Mire was caught in no man`s land after Waller called off a run late, sending him back for a promising 27 leaving the Rhinos at 81/4.
The Rhinos found themselves in deep trouble as P J Moor departed early leaving the Rhinos at 85/5. Wickets kept tumbling for the Rhinos as Waller claimed the scalp of Craig Lamb at deep mid-wicket gifting Masakadza the wicket with rhinos scaring down the barrel at 109/6.
50 was now up for Prince Masvaure who was fighting a lone battle at the crease with the Rhinos at 198/8 in in 39 overs, in dire need of 84 runs from 11 overs to win. It was to be Eagles` day as they went on to win the match by 43 runs gaining the bonus point and toppling Tuskers at the summit.
At Mutare Sports Club Tuskers had a terrible outing as they were dismissed for a dismal 124 by the Manicaland Moutaineers who had amassed a total of 255/9, H Masakadza with 85 and Chris Mpofu with bowling figures of 3/46.
Hamilton Masakadza was pick of the day as he hit 85 off just 79 balls clearing the rope six times in the process.
Teams
Eagles XI: Lamb, Utseya, Chigumbura, Chibhabha, Taylor, Butt, Burl, Garwe, Muzarabani, Chakabva, W.Masakadza
Rhinos XI: Kamungozi, Waller, Mire, Chinouya, Moor, Wadlan, Panyangara, Masvaure, Chapungu, Chisoro, Sibanda,
All the stats used in the compilation of this article were retrieved from @zimcricketv
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